Chicago: School bus hit by gunfire

Chicago
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A school bus transporting students to a parochial school was hit by gunfire this morning as it stopped to pick up children.

The bus was struck in the Southside’s South Deering neighborhood, authorities said.

While no one, including the driver, was shot or injured, there were approximately 25 students on the bus at the time a bullet ripped through a seat, according to a Chicago Times report.

Police responding to a report of criminal damage to a bus at Our Lady of Guadalupe School, 9050 S. Burley Ave., about 7:40 p.m., traced the path of a bullet that ricocheted through the bus. Chicago police spokesperson Jose Estrado said the gunshot entered through a window, penetrated a seat and exited through another window without striking any of the children.

The bullet struck the bus as it was picking up children a couple miles from the school, said Ryan Blackburn, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Chicago's Officer of Catholic Schools.

"Gratefully none of the students were harmed, and this incident demonstrates why the school's mission is so critical to its families," Blackburn said in an emailed statement that also was being distributed to parents. "Teaching our students to learn well and live as disciples of Jesus Christ is what we do, and any action that threatens our children's safety cannot be tolerated."